Steven Pinto : Enfield Police Car Rammed by Supermarket Larceny Suspect: PD

Shocking Theft Leads to Dramatic Police Pursuit on Interstate 91

Enfield, CT — In a dramatic turn of events, a larceny at a local supermarket in Enfield on Tuesday afternoon escalated into a high-speed police pursuit on Interstate 91. The incident unfolded around 4:45 p.m. when Enfield police received a report of a vehicle, suspected to be involved in a robbery, in the vicinity of the Freshwater Commons plaza. Officers quickly located the vehicle near Big Y, where they identified the driver as Steven Pinto, who had just committed a theft at the supermarket.

As the police attempted to apprehend Pinto, he fled onto I-91 southbound. In a bid to stop the suspect, law enforcement deployed a tire deflation device, causing Pinto’s vehicle to ride on four rims as he continued to evade capture. During the pursuit, Pinto rammed into a police cruiser multiple times, raising concerns among officers as he appeared to reach for something under the passenger seat.

With the assistance of Connecticut State Police, the chase culminated in Pinto’s arrest near I-91 exit 42 in Windsor Locks. Upon searching his vehicle, authorities discovered a large machete stashed beside the passenger seat, adding a dangerous dimension to the unfolding events.

Steven Pinto, 31, now faces a slew of charges including reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny, and assault on public safety personnel, among others. Additionally, he was charged with multiple counts of failure to appear in court, further complicating his legal predicament.

Pinto was remanded into custody with bonds totaling $495,000 and was scheduled to appear for arraignment in Hartford Superior Court on Wednesday. The brazen nature of the incident and the subsequent arrest have left the local community in shock, underscoring the swift and decisive response of law enforcement in Enfield.